A consent item will likely be on the agenda of Thursday’s Russellville City Council meeting to approve a zoning change for property in western Russellville that will allow construction of a new Walmart Neighborhood Market.

However, it is unlikely the issue will be decided Thursday. Instead, aldermen will probably just conduct the first reading of the ordinance, as prescribed by state law. Then, the council would hear the second and third readings of the ordinance at its next meetings in February and March.

Then again, aldermen may consider the zoning change for the property at South Vancouver Avenue and West Main Street and vote.

Aldermen and Mayor Bill Eaton have differing perspectives of why they should or shouldn’t go ahead and give the project a green light.

Alderman Randy Horton told The Courier he was 100 percent against it in the beginning. Horton said he has changed his mind since the ordinance transitioned to a Planned Unit Development (PUD).

“The PUD creates an opportunity for debate and for the two sides to work it out,” Horton said. “Walmart addressed a lot of the prior issues such as noise and lighting.”

Horton said this pertains to limiting the hours of heavy traffic, truck unloading times, and the usage of LED lighting.

“I want three readings,” he said. “I oppose efforts to dispense with three readings. Certain neighbors would feel better about Walmart being there if we avoid errors and mistakes, although it has happened in the past. Also, we have to settle the Walmart issue; we’re overlooking the 1 cent sales tax proposal.”

Alderman Seth Irwin said the zoning has met some requirements for the PUD, which require the project must be of “the same nature as the surroundings and must meet six criteria contained in the ordinance.”

“I am concerned because the original zoning is for light [small] office. That is an issue for me.” he said.

Irwin explained he doesn’t know how all six criteria will be met, but when they are, he will be glad to consider the merits of the proposal. The first-term alderman said Walmart has not done its job convincing the council.

“They have not gotten to the merits because Walmart has not met the procedural threshold,” he said. “I am concerned with the way the proposal was couched and how Walmart representatives tried to impress us with landscaping when, in fact, the PUD requires it.”

Martin Irwin said not knowing whether or not the PUD is legal has affected his voting decision.

“I have had a fairly difficult time with this all the way down the line,” he said.

The plan should have started as a PUD when it was proposed, Irwin said, adding he would love to have a Neighborhood Market in Russellville, but possibly in another location. He said he is concerned about why it was not originally presented as a PUD.

“We must do what is legal,” he said. “The application may not comply with the ordinance and, if so, the City Council should deny the petition.”

Irwin said he has heard arguments in favor of the issue, with some saying competition is a good thing.

He believes every ordinance should have a three-time reading, he explained.

As an option, he would make a motion to suspend the three readings and ask for an emergency vote, if there is a council majority.

“But I am probably 53/47 toward a no vote today. I will know more by next Thursday,” he said.

“Walmart has given the best picture possible,” said Irwin, “but the roads were designed for residential use by the neighborhood.”

He would like to see the Neighborhood Market built off State Highway 7, north of Interstate 40.

Irwin said he is concerned most about the long-term interest of the city. This affects incomes and cash flow, and he wants the jobs, but Walmart could have been better prepared.

Alderman Garland Steuber feels he has all the information needed to vote.

“I would like to see the council suspend the rules and vote. There is no point in having three readings, and my basis for this is jobs,” he said. “The property will be rezoned some day, and right now the property is not residential anymore. The city put a road there.”

When that happened, Steuber explained, the city told residents the road would increase property values, and it did. Walmart wants to put its store where the customers are.

“When someone buys a home next to undeveloped property, they have to expect it to be developed eventually,” he said. “Walmart is offering a better deal than someone else might in the future. This would be hard for another company to do.”

According to Steuber, this is a clear issue. It is not about whether or not there are enough grocery stores or pharmacies. The main issue is whether or not the property is suitable to be rezoned. Some people are trying to influence him to vote against it, he said.

“But, it is not in the best interest of all the people of Russellville to vote against it,” he said.

He is afraid the issue is not going to pass but feels the vote is going to be close.

“We’ve been working with Walmart for several months,” Eaton said on his way home from the Arkansas Municipal League conference in Little Rock. “We have gone through a series of changes and the situation evolved with information gathering.”

The mayor was critical that the issue wasn’t resolved by the council in December because aldermen were not willing to cast a vote.

“This is an evolved process, but the point is, this had come to the council during last year’s meeting and the aldermen who left were reluctant to vote,” he said.

The new aldermen are trying to process the information provided by Walmart, Eaton said.

“My personal perspective, if it does come to a vote, I am prepared to cast the deciding one,” he pointed out. “I reserve my voting information until the meeting. I’m holding that information because of the possibility my perspective will influence the other aldermen.”

Eaton said he thinks if there are any unanswered questions, they should be asked. Then, what is 30 days in the overall scheme of things?

“We need to get it right, even if it takes one more reading.” he said.

The mayor said getting second opinions from other engineers outside of the those who represent Walmart is a good idea. He said he hopes aldermen will make decisions not based on a personal perspective. He also hopes for no individual agendas.

He said some have attempted to persuade council members to look at it from a personal perspective. Eaton believes the aldermen will do what’s best for the city of Russellville.

"Irwin said he has heard arguments in favor of the issue, with some saying competition is a good thing."

It is one thing when the competition is on a level playing field, but with walmarts obvious direct involvement in manufacturing at third-world wage scales, its ability to be directly involved in predatory pricing by having proprietary purchase agreements with those manufacturers that it contracts, and the fact that walmart has directly affected outsourcing of labor to second and third world countries, it is directly detrimental to the health and wellbeing of those locally owned businesses that have devoted their lives and incomes to the community.

To allow a situation in which the profits that are generated locally to leave the community is, in my opinion, a violation of the public trust.

These things are evidenced by walmarts recent push (once again) to effect its corporate image by declaring that it will hire veterans, and concentrate on domestically produced goods. You will remember that it has done this once before, and and it was only a half-hearted effort. Aldermen, don't be afraid to honor your responsibility to the citizens of Russellville, and stand up against this corporate entity that has been directly involved in destroying the job market in the United States. Just say NO!